The beautiful show homes of the WhatHouse? Awards interior design winners
Gold
Sitting at the top of the WhatHouse? Awards podium for 2015 is Newcourt Residential, with Alderbrook House in Weybridge, Surrey.
Located in a quiet road near the town centre, Alderbrook House has a garden that runs down to the River Wey and a private mooring on to a peaceful section of the river.
The theme of the house is reminiscent of a New York apartment, with clever layering of wallpaper, mirrors and lights, but this is combined with the softness of an English country house in a suberb location close to London with river views, fully exploited and capitalised throughout in the interior design. This is all done by an in-house designer, who sourced all the furniture from various trips around the world: for example, the hand-blown chandelier from Paris; the bathroom cabinets and the 11m curved sofa were specially made in Portugal and the dining room table came from Texas.
Silver
In the coveted Silver spot is CALA Homes with Hurlingham House, Ascot, Berkshire.
This home oozes in style and glamour, and in definitely has the best exterior out of the three winners. Internally, the house gave the interior designer scope to create a scheme that worked in perfect harmony with the space. Silver, gold and bronze colour palates are used in the entertaining rooms, which is contrasted with a monochrome theme using checks and stripes for the large kitchen and family area. The marble staircase is a striking feature leading up to the amazing master bedroom suite with its sitting room and masses of cupboard space. The interior designer has done a fabulous job of creating a home, which is both restful and luxurious.
Bronze
Taking Bronze was Berkeley Homes with One Tower Bridge, London SE1.
Berkeley Homes used the cartouches from its neighbour, Tower Bridge to create a distinctive identity for the development. Elegant art deco glamour is combined with bespoke parquet floors and burnished bronze lifts with handmade panels inlaid with bronze, giving a nod to traditional craftsmanship.
Another very special touch is the book matched marble floor leading into the apartments. The design is mirrored on the ceiling and a panelled wall creates a vision of opulence, and the theme is carried through into the bathrooms. As well as the interior design of the interior design of the apartments, there is incredible attention to detail in the communal areas.